New pact for deputy sheriffs under review

Lehigh County contract would hike salaries and health-care contributions.

August 12, 2010|By Margie Peterson, SPECIAL TO THE MORNING CALL

Lehigh County Commissioners are considering a three-year contract for the county's deputy sheriffs that would grant them a 5 percent wage hike the first year but substantially increase what the deputies contribute toward their health coverage.

The pact, which took a year to negotiate, would be retroactive to Jan. 1 of this year and would give 2.5 percent wage hikes for 2011 and 2012. However, the agreement contains "me too" clauses, which would allow for higher raises if the majority of the non-union county employees get them.

The deputies are paid on a step scale based largely on longevity, said Thomas Muller, director of administration. Under the contract, salaries would range from $39,388 to $55,423.

As a concession, the deputy sheriffs would start paying toward their own health care coverage and would pay 45.8 percent more than they pay now to cover their families, putting them in line with health care co-pays that non-union county employees contribute.

Muller said none of the county unions, including the deputy sheriffs association, have wanted to negotiate long-term contracts in this poor economic climate.

"They are really accepting less than what the other unions got this year," Muller said following the meeting.

In addition to the increase in employee health care contributions, the county will benefit from favorable changes in workplace rules, he said.

Mike Lakis, president of the Lehigh County Deputy Sheriffs' Association, told commissioners that it was his toughest negotiations yet, but the association stuck it out because it didn't want to go to arbitration.

The county commissioners could vote on the contract as early as in two weeks.